Whataburger, which previously had been an Aussie Grill<\/a> and, prior to that, a Boston Market. Declan Walsh, 18 and a dual enrollment student at Florida SouthWestern State College, arrived at noon Sept. 9, the second person in line.\u00a0<\/p>\nRodriguez Sr. said he spent Wednesday night in a nearby hotel before returning Thursday morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Rodriguez and Walsh families each received a box full of Whataburger gear. Rodriguez Jr. will be enjoying 52 vouchers for free meals, one a week for a year, as part of the grand opening promotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The line wrapped around the building, and a line of cars brought adjacent Kenwood Lane to a standstill.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a little bit normal,\u201d Whataburger President and CEO Debbie Stroud said of the grand opening scene. \u201cFort Myers is going to give us a really warm welcome, I can tell.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stroud, who has a 35-year career in food and beverage, worked at McDonald\u2019s and Starbucks before joining Whataburger as chief operating officer in 2023. She was promoted to CEO in January 2025. She said she can\u2019t make it to every grand opening, but she traveled from corporate headquarters in San Antonio for this one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Although this will be known as store No. 1690, it\u2019s roughly the 1,203rd Whataburger, Stroud said. The store numbers don\u2019t run continuously, as some locations have closed over the years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Whataburger President and CEO Debbie Stroud, left, presents a box of Whataburger gear to Daniel Rodriguez Jr., 18, of Immokalee during the Sept. 10 grand opening in south Fort Myers. Rodriguez arrived more than 24 hours before the restaurant opened and was its first official customer.<\/p>\n
David Dorsey<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not chasing a quantity as much as we\u2019re chasing quality,\u201d Stroud said when asked how the chain could compete with, for example, Culver\u2019s, which has 21 locations across Southwest Florida. Whataburger plans to open its second in the region Oct. 22 in Estero. Port Charlotte could follow later in 2027. \u201cWe want the experience to be differentiated and special.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That expansion comes with a sizable investment. Stroud said building a new Whataburger restaurant costs roughly $2.4 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stroud said her go-to burger order is a junior double. She customizes it, removing the pickles and adding ketchup, mayonnaise and Monterey Jack cheese.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s made to order,\u201d Stroud said. \u201cIt\u2019s fresh beef. Never frozen. Our chicken is phenomenal. But it\u2019s really about the experience. There\u2019s a reason why we\u2019ve been around for 76 years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whataburger originated in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950. Harmon Dobson started the original burger stand. An avid pilot, he made orange and white the restaurant\u2019s color scheme so he could easily see his restaurants while flying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Customers line up Sept. 10 outside the new Whataburger at 12916 S. Cleveland Ave. in south Fort Myers. The restaurant is the Texas-based chain\u2019s first Southwest Florida location.<\/p>\n
David Dorsey<\/p>\n
Dobson died in 1967 in a plane crash. Joel Dobson Halberstadt, one of the late Dobson\u2019s nephews, lives in Estero and attended the grand opening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At about 10:45 a.m., Greg Dunn, who will be managing a team of about 100 employees at the restaurant, cut the ceremonial ribbon. Stroud stood beside him as Rodriguez Jr. and his father awaited their moment to finally walk inside Whataburger as the first official customers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an iconic brand to be a part of,\u201d Stroud said. \u201cIt\u2019s really exciting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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